← H2254 H2256 →

חֲבַל

𐤇𐤁𐤋

chăbal

H2255 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To damage, ruin, cause harm, destroy. In Aramaic contexts of the Hebrew Bible, this verb conveys the act of inflicting harm or causing ruin, whether to persons, objects, or reputations. Its usage encompasses physical destruction, impairment, and infliction of injury or serious disadvantage.

Semantic Range

to destroy, to cause ruin, to inflict damage, to harm, to injure, to spoil, to impair

Root / Etymology

Root: חבל. The Hebrew root חבל carries core meanings relating to binding, pledging, or causing pain. In Aramaic, the verbal root retains the sense of doing harm or causing damage. The word חֲבַל represents the Peal (G-stem) verb form in Biblical Aramaic, functioning parallel to the Hebrew verb but with a semantic focus on harm or ruin rather than on pledging or binding.

Historical & Contextual Notes

חֲבַל is used specifically in the Aramaic sections of the Hebrew Bible (notably Daniel and Ezra) in the sense of doing harm or destroying. While the Hebrew cognate (חָבַל) can refer to pledging or binding, the Aramaic usage is narrower and primarily denotes active harm or destruction. Standard English translations such as "destroy" or "hurt" often capture the core sense, but the term can also involve more nuanced actions such as detriment, spoiling, or thwarting. It can be used in reference to both animate and inanimate objects. The word appears in imperial Aramaic contexts, reflecting its linguistic environment under Persian rule. Its usage should be distinguished from other Aramaic verbs of simple destruction or killing, as חֲבַל can imply both physical and non-physical harm. In post-biblical Aramaic, the root continues to carry the sense of doing harm or inflicting damage.

Translation Consistency

primary "ruin" 2 occurrences

“Ruin” naturally covers the primary senses in the SILEX entry—physical destruction, serious damage, and harm to reputation or well‑being. It is a common, natural English verb that fits both concrete (objects, places) and abstract (reputation, relationships) uses, and so provides a consistent, idiomatic base for all forms of חֲבַל (H2255).

Alternatives (4 occurrences):
"severely harm" (1x) "harmed" (1x) "destroyed" (1x) "destroy" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

(Aramaic) corresponding to חָבַל; to ruin; destroy, hurt.

Bantu Hebrew

No Bantu Hebrew comparisons have been recorded for this word yet.

Root Family

חבל (chăbûwlâh) — to bind, pledge, damage, destroy

Root חבל to bind, pledge, cause pain, damage
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H2248 חֲבוּלָה injury
H2254 חָבַל he bound
H2256 חֶבֶל in her binding-cords
H2257 חֲבַל he harmed
H2258 חֲבֹל to take in pledge

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
H2255-03 תִתְחַבַּ֔ל titechabal AVMi3fs be destroyed she will ruin herself it will not be ruined 3
H2255-01 חַבְּל֑וּ/נִי chabeluni AVpp3mp/Sp1cs they hurt me they severely harmed me they harmed me 1
H2255-02 לְ/חַבָּלָ֛ה lechabalah AR/Vpc to-destroy to inflict damage to destroy 1
H2255-04 וְ/חַבְּל֗וּ/הִי vechabeluhi AC/Vpv2mp/Sp3ms and-bind-it and severely harm him and severely harm it 1

Occurrences in Scripture

6 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
H2255-03 Daniel 2:44 תִתְחַבַּ֔ל titechabal AVMi3fs be destroyed she will ruin herself it will ruin itself
H2255-04 Daniel 4:20 וְ/חַבְּל֗וּ/הִי vechabeluhi AC/Vpv2mp/Sp3ms and-bind-it and severely harm him and severely harm it
H2255-01 Daniel 6:23 חַבְּל֑וּ/נִי chabeluni AVpp3mp/Sp1cs they hurt me they severely harmed me they harmed me
H2255-03 Daniel 6:27 תִתְחַבַּ֔ל titechabal AVMi3fs be-destroyed she will ruin herself will be destroyed
H2255-03 Daniel 7:14 תִתְחַבַּֽל titechabal AVMi3fs shall be destroyed she will ruin herself it will not be ruined
H2255-02 Ezra 6:12 לְ/חַבָּלָ֛ה lechabalah AR/Vpc to-destroy to inflict damage to destroy
← H2254 Hebrew Lexicon H2256 →